CNN has landed amidst a storm over pulling a Thai preschool massacre story with visuals despite not having permission for such. Prompting Thai authorities of taking action against the American media house.
The two CNN journalists involved were fined after authorities found that they were reporting the incident happening in the country after entering the national territory on tourist visas, including the horrific deadly massacre at a school.
The local police investigating the matter briefed to the press said, “The journalists believed they had obtained permission to enter and film after being waved into the building by a volunteer or a health officer and were unaware the person was not authorized to allow them inside.”
Two of the CNN journalists agreed to pay fines of 5,000 baht equivalent to $133 dollars, apologize and leave the country at the earliest. CNN Executive Vice President and GM Mike McCarthy also tendered his share of apology after the incident came to light.
"We deeply regret any distress or offense our report may have caused, and for any inconvenience to the police at such a distressing time for the country," he said in the statement tweeted by CNN.
The entire incident came to the notice of Thai authorities after a Thai reporter posted an image on social media of two members of the crew leaving the scene, which they reported last Thursday claimed 36 innocent lives including 24 children.
One CNN crew member was seen climbing over the low wall and fence around the compound, over police tape, and the other was already outside.
The incident has ignited criticism from the foreign correspondents’ Club of Thailand, which said that the members collectively are “dismayed” by CNN’s coverage and the act of covering the crime scene without legal permission from the concerned authority.